Falling, flowing, soaking. Untamed, redirected, blocked, channelled.
Our most basic need comes in many shapes and sizes.
Albania's southern coast is spectacular. Here, where a river meets the Adriatic, a fort stands near the ancient Greek city of Butrint.
Lake Shkodra, Albania. A good day can be had cycling along the little towns to the Montenegrin border.
More of Lake Shkodra.
Summer in Kosovo. A good walk from the town of Pec goes alomg the river to cafes and bars and beaches.
In other parts of Kosovo, the river is a little more built up, but still a pleasant place for a stroll. Prizren.
Macedonia's south has two big lakes near the greek and Albanian borders. Lake Ohrid here is the busier.
Matka Canyon just outside the Macedonian capital, Skopje. Watch your step.
Possible the most famous view in Montenegro, of Kotor Bay from the castle. Avoid summer!
Less famous views of Montenegro are its mountains and lakes. Crno Jezero is in the north.
Barno Jezero is also near Zablijak. Also in the area is Tara Canyon for hiking or thrillseekers.
Probably my favourite part of Montenegro was Biogradska Gora, with its hiking trails, lakes and mountains.
Ban Maka is a great birding spot in south Thailand, in season. Otherwise kayaking on the lake passes the time.
Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall, just past Erawan Falls in Thailand's Kanchanaburi province.
Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.
The limestone khasts of Phang Nga, just north of Phuket.
Chokkraddin falls, near the faraway town of Pilok, in the cool Kanchanaburi mountains.
Definetely my fave beach in Thailland, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Another one of my favourite spots in Thailand, Sangkhlaburi, and its man-made lake.
Meghalaya in India's noth-east has so many waterfalls. This was pretty cool- Wei Sawdong, near Cherrapunji.
Near Nongriat and its famous "living root brdiges", Rainbow Falls actually gets rainbows. How was I to know? They are a morning thing, apparently.
The startling blue waters of the Dawki River flow from India's Meghalaya state into Bangladesh. The river has become a popular spot for India tourists.
This is the Dawki several months after the end ofthe rains. Look at the high water marks and try to imagine the volume of water.
A small boat dwarfed by the mighty Brahmaputra River, at Tezpur, in India's Assam state.
When the world's heaviest rainfall hits the area, this trickle at Nohkalikia Falls must be one impressive sight. Another Meghalaya mega-fall.
Often bone dry, Lake Menindee in outback New South Wales fills irregularly from flooding upriver in Queensland.
It and other lakes in the area are magnets for huge flocks of birds.
One of Australia's most dramatic views, where the Great Australian Bight meets the Nullarbor Plain at the Bunda Cliffs, is a long way from anywhere.
Cape Le Grand National Park, southern Western Australia.
Hiking to a waterfall from Malealea Lodge, southern Lesotho.
High in the mountains of Lesotho's south, Semonkong Falls freezes in the depths of winter.
Another eastern highlands' gem, Bridal Veil Falls, has a lovely but deserted ZimParks campground.
Well worth a stop near Harare, Chinhoyi's Blue Cave is well, very blue.
The Runde River at Chilojo Cliffs, in Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou NP. Beautiful bush.
Waterholes in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park sustain wonderful wildlife, and are kept viable by pumps.
Yet another Zimbabwe camp which we had all to ourselves, Nyangombe Falls in Nyanga NP.
Zimbabwe's Mtarazi Falls viewed from the poorly guarded skywalk.
Bohol, and much of the Philippines, often involves one waterfall after another.
A quiet spot on the Loboc River, Bohol.
A small lake is the cnter of Ban Rak Thai village, in the north of Thailand's Mae Hong Son province.